Rustic Sourdough Bread

I’ve never created a bucket list – per se.  To be sure, there are things I want to accomplish, places I want to travel to, and experiences I hope to have, but I’ve never put together an actual ‘list’ of those things.  If I did have a bucket list, baking a crusty, slightly tangy, artisan style sourdough bread would have been pretty near the top.  I am proud to say that as of a few days ago, I can cross that off of my ‘non existent’ list.
It was quite the journey getting to the golden brown incrusted – and dare I say gorgeous – boule you see here in these photos. It all began back in November.  Technically, it began years ago when I first became enamored with the concept of making an all natural sourdough starter from scratch.  I had made a number of attempts over the years but never with real success.  But this past November I became more determined than ever and finally achieved success using a process I found on Maurizio Leo’s blog The Perfect Loaf.  As life so often has it, with the holidays looming and all that comes with that, my accomplishment was ill-timed.   I was far too busy to focus on experimental bread baking.  So into the fridge went my eager starter for what became a long winter’s nap.

Jump forward to late January and I embarked once again on my path to baking a sourdough boule using my own natural starter.  Maurizio’s blog has so much incredible information about baking bread using a natural starter.  I spent endless hours studying his step-by-step process and gaining what knowledge I could before attempting my first loaf.  Just as I had studied Maurizio, he writes how he “voraciously read” Chad Robertson’s Tartine Bread before setting out to bake his first sourdough boule.  Maurizio’s tutorials are a genius blend of both his own personal experience and what he learned from Chad Robertson.  Between the two of them, I finally felt empowered enough to give it a go.
I was beyond giddy as I pulled my first loaf from the oven.  I may have even jumped up and down clapping my hands. It looked beautiful!  Just like the photos from The Perfect Loaf and Tartine Bread.  Knowing that looks aren’t everything, how the bread tasted would be the real test.  Well, it was DELICIOUS!!  I may have been slightly biased but when my friend’s eyes rolled back in her head as she chewed her first bite I was pretty convinced I had met with success.
How beautifully and delicious my sourdough boule turned out isn’t really the point of this post.  Please don’t misinterpret my sense of accomplishment with boasting.  My point is, I pushed myself in an area of baking that totally intimidated and challenged me.  And that feels good!  In truth, it feels amazing!!